Noya starred at the Mongu child as the ground around them becomes moist wondering the red liquid coming out of them? It smelled familiar with it's irony scent, then she remembered that this is the same stuff that came out of her when she was left in the forest by her masters. This Mongu didn't look like they can move, and she couldn't move when she was brought. Noya did not know what to feel but she was getting a sense of pride. She thinks she l had a spar, a spar she won on top of it as she puffs out her chest with glee. It was much easier than she thought it would be. But after pause Noya remembers that Zani put green things on her when she was brought here and she got better. Maybe that's what she was supposed to do now?
Taking a step away about to get the leafs Zani put on her last night, Noya stops remembering what her masters said while they left her. Dead.
Despite not being told what it meant Noya had an instinctive understanding of the concept. Squatting down and poking the caved in skull of the Mongu child Noya is sure that she made this Mongu dead. Rising to her feet Noya yawns casually and takes a step out of the pooling blood. Noya did not care about their life, she was only concerned about what to do next. That thought is cut short when she sees the body of the Mongu child slide away from the pile of fruit. Noya turns around and see Zani who makes eye contact.
Noya:"Noya dud what Zani say. That one come to take fruit! Noya spar that one. Now they dead."
Zani:"Zani hear, Noya loud. Too loud...Noya do good."
Zani says grumbling as Noya beams with more prude then before then dragging the body out of the hut and tossing it into the street without so much as a huff. The blood slowly absorbed by the dirt below as the bod falls onto the ground and a howling is heard. Several Mongu already awake ignore these howls after turning to see the body and continuing to go about their day. The rays of sunlight shining on the corpse as several creatures that have ferret like bodies mixed with the jaws and claws of hila monster rush out from trap doors that should have been hidden. But have been reduced to wooden flaps that are as clear as day in the hills od dirt and in the side of walls. Instantly they start biting and pulling parts of the body in different directions, snapping up fingers and chunks of flesh before dragging off the body into a trap door. Zani doesn't knows by the end of the day that body is going to be put into the bone pile in side of the village. Regardless Zani recognized the color of that Mongu's clothes to be that of a rival clan. With a satisfied grin at the threat to her clan and food source gone Zani looks over to the mother of the dead Mongu child.
Zani:"Zani warn, say your runt weak. Zani try to make deal. Make your runt live, If your runt pair with Jukku. Shame too weak for pairing, too weak to live. Like you, do better. Maybe can't, weak make weak."
The Mongu woman growls in anger but, not at seeing her dead daughter get carried away. She was angry that her child was weak enough to die while stealing and not bothering to at LEAST die AFTER giving her the stolen fruit. But the anger quickly leaves ash she responds.
???:"Zani is old, old bitch. Weak woman, weak like clear stone(glass). Should be quiet .....But right, Rella was weak. Sister will not."
The woman says before cracking her neck while picking up a rock with her tail and throwing it at Zani. Who leans to the side dodging the rock as it blows a hole in her hut and seven huts behind her's. And rhe woman walks inside.
After walking back inside Zani reaches up to Noya's head, making Noya flinch before relaxing. After seeing she can barely get her hand up to Noya's chest level when standing. Zani gestures for Noya to lean down several times before Noya does so. Zani then pats Noya's head filling the girl with a sense of pride, feeling in every part of her body that she'd done something right. This was how striders would Mongu give positive enforcement and acknowledgements by striders. The entire gesture is really a sign of submission and obedience but Mongu after several generations of it accepted it as a normal thing.
Regardless Noya watched as Zani walked over to the corner if the hut to wake her grandson. Then kicking the young mongu in his side repeatedly, even after he woke up screaming.
Zani:"What Zani tell Jukku?! Jukku need to wake up fast! Jukku leave weak Noya to spare by self! Noya no good if dead!"
Jukku:"Ah! Jukku sorry gran! Jukku hurt from getting fruit!"
Zani stops kicking immediately after hearing this... almost immediately, kicking one more time for good measure. Knowing her kicks hurt, wouldn't actually damage Jukku enough to do any damage. As much as Zani wanted to hit Jukku for getting injured from picking fruit yesterday and he didn't tell her. That would only cause problems for when he goes to the arena. With a sign Zani gestures for Noya to come closer.
Zani:"Noya hear Zani well, it important"
Noya eagerly gives Zani her complete attention as her tail sways behind her. Tapping Jukku's cheek as it sways.
Zani:"Noya Pair for Jukku, Noya female. Noya not go to arena much like Jukku do. Noya must do part as female and pair. Heal Jukku when Jukku hurt. Zani show how. Follow"
Zani guides Noya to a "basket" in another corner that's made with blue leafs instead of green, by pulling Noya with her tail. Pulling out the same kind of leaf she used on Noya.
Zani:"This Banlin leaf, find on tree. Zani show tree later."
Noya nods and tilts her head wondering if all leafs could be useful. Watching as Zani peels off the deceptivly thick leaf to reveal a thick layer of gel surround by a leaf wall.
Zani:"Peel first, always."
Noya:"What when it not-"
Zani interrupts her, slapping Noya with her tail.
Zani:"Zani not done. Will not heal if not peel. It bad, it dumb, don't do.."
Zani once again guides Noya over to Jukku by pulling on Noya's hips with her tail.
Zani looks at Jukku and gestures for him to show her where he's injured. Jukku raises his arms and pats the side of his ribs. Seeing the bruises on his side makes Noya gasp,a whirlwind of emotion running through her. Surprise, curiosity, and something else that no Mongu was supposed yo be able to feel. Sympathy, though Noya didn't know this. Zani then puts the leaf in Noya's hands.
Zani:"Noya, put sticky on Jukku. Then press, press hard on Jukku. Leaf will do rest."
Noya:"But, Noya not, what if Noya do bad
What if-..."
The worsts die in her mouth at Zani's glare. This was nearly the bare minimum Noya was expected to do as Jukku's pair and she wasn't about to accept hesitating. After a slap to the back of her head Noya applies the leaf onto Jukku's injury. Making the boy shudder at the cold sensation before Noya puts pressure on the leaf making him wince in discomfort.....
Noya:"..."
Zani:"..."
Jukku:"..@__@..."
Noya fiddles with her fingers, the room dusty and still as they sit in silence for several minutes. Noya was used to things being silent but she didn't like this silence, it felt like when she talked in her cage and her masters put a blanket over her cage to shut her up. And not the normal silenctof when it was just her around. Had she done something wrong? Did she somehow not put the leaf on correctly? Was it the wrong spot? The girl thought to herself, not aware that for Mongu this was a good portion of time spent. Silence until it was no longer needed. Unfortunately while caught in her thoughts she had failed to notice Zani currently rolling in the floor holding her nose eith her hands and rail after Nota sat too close to her. about until Zani spoke.
Zani:"Jukku, go bath!. Bring Noya! Both smell of dead gooseweesle! MOVE ASS NOW!!"
The sudden noise made Noya jump and Jukku immediately stand up, not wanting what was to come next if they didn't move. Unfortunately Noya had the instincs of a crippled koala...
So Zani took several steps backwards with tear filled eyes as she caught another whiff of the childrens musk, throwing sticks on the ground at them while screaming for them to leave. Jukku Noya with his tail by her hips, making her yelp. Kicking up a dust cloud as he jumps out of the window carrying Noya and running down the street. Passing a sleeping Mongu, pausing, then kicking the Mongu in the side before continuing to run.
Zani sniffs the air and the foul smell was still present. Arter a brief search she found a small sink beetle on the floor and tossed it into the street.
After running for several minutes of escaping Zani's wrath. Jukku nearly collapses and sets Noya down on the ground next to a stream. Swaying as he catches his breath and drinks from the stream. Before Noya pokes the water, stopping her finger just short of it before snatching her finger away and poking him instead.
Noya:"Jukku, what that?"
Jukku:"River, drink it. Do like Jukku"
He says putting his cupped hands into the stream then drinking. Expecting Noya to do the same. However she just stares before Jukku gets annoyed and shoves a heavy hollowed, out beet into her hands. Then aggressively geatures for her to suck on the beet. Noya nods before biting the beet instead and making Jukku want to drown her in the river more. Before Noya's marks start glowing slightly and the beet shrivels up in seconds. It was as if there was never any liquid inside it to begin with, one could have easily mistaken it for a soft rock. Regardless Noya eats the now dehydrated beet and points to a school of Koi fish.
Noya:"Whats that Jukku?"
Jukku:"Fish, you eat. Fish good."
Noya snatches a fish out of the water, all her hesitation of touching water forgotten in the face of hunger.
Fish: "Gulb glub" Translation= :(
Opening her mouth to bite the defenseless flopping golden koi before Jukku slaps her hand. Making Noya drop the fish back into the water.
Jukku:"NOYA NO TOUCH THAT ONE! THAT PUDGE! PUDGE SACRED! PUDGE WEATHER FISH! MAKE SKY ANGRY!"
Jukku says while slapping Noya several times and making Moya whimper with each slap.
Fish "Glub" Translation= "You will do well not to repeat this offence BOY. Make sure to punish this little wrench for her Vile act on mine, PRECIUS scales." :)
Noya:"Noya sorry! Noya no touch!" Seeing Noya shaking now, satisfied of putting the fear in the name of Pudge in Noya. Jukku stops slapping Noya and Immediately starts Looking around for any witnesses. Pudge was extremely sacred to Mongu, one of the few things they actively chose to put above eating and fighting. Anyone who got caught doing so was usually corned and beat to death by the entirety of the Mongu village.
So, making sure no one was around to see was a top priority. Jukku's heart drops to his stomach and cementing hos feet to the ground as he saw a Mongu man staring at them, from a measly 10 feet away. A Mongu man that was much too clean and beautiful for a Mongu. A clean neatly trimmed and tied bun of black hair, black eyes that were almost like waxed marbles, his skin with no scars or bruises whatsoever, and wearing an actual pair of pants with a cloth hanging out the front. A symbol of a golden diamond on the black of his cloth. Jukku wanted to run and stop the man, to preserve both his and Noya's lives. But his instincts, every fiber of his being was telling him to not even approach the Mongu. Hopelessly stuck in place as the Mongu man turned casually, as if there was no rush in the world to tell the village of Mongu.
However, Noya was oblivious to all this after she stopped rubbing her cheek she was about to ask Jukku more questions before she noticed where Jukku was looking and tapped his shoulder.
Noya:"Jukku, why him wear-"
The girl never managed to get her sentence out as if he was pulled out of an ocean Jukku started running at the Mongu man. This startled the Mongu man. This boy was somehow running at him, had the intent to stop him?! Before the Mongu Man realized Jukku had already entered an attacking range. Panicked the man leaned back and shot his heel out in an arc at Jukku's head. The attack more of a clumsy excuse for a reflex then an actual attack. Jukku stopped short of the Man's heel, feeling and smelling the wind from his foot. Before Jukku crouched into an uppercut at the man's stomach. Hitting dead center and nearly knocking their wind out of the man. Sending a hook from the left to the Man's face breaking his nose adn the man immeditly clutched his bleeding sniffer with both hands.
Mongu Man:"AAAAHH! YOU DAMN BRUTE! YOU CANT DO THIS TO ME! I'M BETTER THAN YOU! YOU KNOW WELL YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO TOUCH THAT DAMN FISH! YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS TO ME! YOu shouldn't be able to- GUH, AAAAH! GET AWAY, GET AWY, GET AWAY!" This fight was confusing for Jukku. This man didn't fight like a Mongu despite being one. And the man was so weak, Jukku was not mature yet, he knows he should be struggling. And now this Mongu is speaking weird, Jukku hasn't heard any Striders speak like this, the only said one or two words to any Mongu. Then all of a sudden *Bang* Jukku was now having his first taste of morning dirt. Cocking his foot back the man started to stomp on Jukku while screaming. Not in some sort of rage or combative chant, but out of fear. In fact, everything about the Man's actions suggested he had never one been in a fight, been in danger, or anything of the sort. Jukku curled into a ball as he felt impact after impact, the man may have not been in a fight before but was still an Adult Mongu man. Meaning Jukku was not in any position to get up despite wrapping his tail around the Man's ankle trying to trip him. Each tug pf his tail doing Less and less and the Man screamed more and more. *Bang* The man stumbles feeling a heavy thud to the back of his head. His head cracking like a whip to look at Noya (who finally stopped looking at fish long enough to put together that Jukku was being hurt) about to throw an extremely telegraphed punch. This punch never came to pass as the man punches Noya in her face nearly knocking her out and notices Jukku trying to get up. Slithering his tail around her waist and slams her onto Jukku, stopping the boy from trying to get up and creating a small crater that had the hands Jukku was using to push himself up a several inches in the ground.
Both Noya and Jukku Tried to get up and the Man kicked both of them into a tree.
Mongu Man:"SEE!? NO ONE IS SUPPOSED TO HURT ME! THAT MEAN I'M NEVER GOING TO LOSE YOU DIRT DRINKING APES!" The man says confidently, more to himself then to Noya and Jukku. Trying to convince himself that he wasn't still afraid of the things the pair may do. He hated the burning in his chest from moving at more than a strolling pace, from being punched for the first time in his life. Feeling like he was at death's door as he clutches the back of his head and gasp at the sight of the blood on his hand. Breaking out into loud panicked screams, jumping and getting louder by the second. This was more than enough time for JUkku and Noya to get back on their feet and run at the man. Jukku dashes to the Man's side and throws a hook from the left to the Man's liver another hoot from the right to the Man's stomach repeatedly. While at the same time Noya starts throwing punches to the Man's neck and face, each blow getting more and more aggressive. Less and less structured, almost destructive. (Or at least a what destruction would look like if you had a blind old man with Alsheimer's try to paint The Mona Lisa.) Until the Man had a window to grab Noya by her throat about to use his tail to deal with Jukku before the Man's grip on Noya went limp as his world became tilted with a loud snap. Falling onto the ground as Jukku pants, his hands and arms throbbing from the effort it took to snap the Mongu Man's neck. And for fonce Jukku was on the flinching side of the two of them as Noya starts stomping the head of body.
Jukku:"Noya, stop, Him dead. He no stand more"
However Noya doesn't stop, annoying Jukku. Or it ussally would if each stompif her foot didn't start making small sparks. A black spot quickly growing on the head. Despite his annoyance Jukku was too out of breath to stop Noya or do much aside from being interested in the pretty light of the sparks from Noya's foot. But then A sound forgein to Noya and familiure to Jukku rang out. A cold sterile ring of a large bell that made the same feeling of cemented feet roar inside Jukku. The striders were coming, they would come soon and they needed to leave Now. But this time after a small series of twitching Jukku moves on his own, grab's Noya by her hand and starts running to their original destination, not caring about how many times Noya trips trying to keep up with him.